The topic of the connections or lack thereof between faith and health, particularly in the area of psychology, has been a topic of growing interest in both the medical and theological community in the past decades. Collegium alumus Thomas G. Plante and his colleague Allen C. Sherman have published a compendium of research from leading scholars in medicine and the behavioral sciences, discussing the links between religious faith and health. Questions such as whether or not religious or spiritual persons enjoy better well-being or mental health, do religious beliefs change the way people adapt to the demands of chronic or terminal illness, the effects of forgiveness and unforgiveness on health, and the complex link between faith and mental health, are just a few of the topics discussed in this work.

While the book is written largely for the health care professional, particularly in the area of psychology, the book is also within reach for the interested lay reader or the undergraduate student of psychology. While the discussion concerning the links and benefits between prayer and health, spirituality and well-being, and the role of religious ritual and belief in establishing the concrete self, continue to grow and deepen both in the academic and the therapeutic communities, Plante's book will prove to be a valuable contribution for every researcher or interested person in religion, spirituality, and health. -- Harriet A. Luckman